Ferroptosis regulation by the NGLY1/NFE2L1 pathway

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Mar 15;119(11):e2118646119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2118646119. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Abstract

SignificanceFerroptosis is an oxidative form of cell death whose biochemical regulation remains incompletely understood. Cap'n'collar (CNC) transcription factors including nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 1 (NFE2L1/NRF1) and NFE2L2/NRF2 can both regulate oxidative stress pathways but are each regulated in a distinct manner, and whether these two transcription factors can regulate ferroptosis independent of one another is unclear. We find that NFE2L1 can promote ferroptosis resistance, independent of NFE2L2, by maintaining the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), a key protein that prevents lethal lipid peroxidation. NFE2L2 can also promote ferroptosis resistance but does so through a distinct mechanism that appears independent of GPX4 protein expression. These results suggest that NFE2L1 and NFE2L2 independently regulate ferroptosis.

Keywords: NRF1; cancer; ferroptosis.

MeSH terms

  • Ferroptosis* / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Humans
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 1* / genetics
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 1* / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress* / genetics
  • Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase* / genetics
  • Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase* / metabolism
  • Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase* / genetics

Substances

  • NF-E2-Related Factor 1
  • NFE2L1 protein, human
  • Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase
  • NGLY1 protein, human
  • Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase